To Be a Patriot

Nearly 60 years after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, at a dinner honoring the late George Washington, Daniel Webster said, "May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country."

As we enjoy the rights afforded to us by our founders, it is in lines like that of Webster's we are reminded of the importance of patriotism.

The United States of America faces a plethora of challenges, both at home and abroad, and each more difficult to solve than the last. But while politics may divide us today, it is more important than ever to emphasize that the embodiment of patriotism is not a love of government, but of country. Where some things pull us apart, patriotism is the force that binds us together.

We credit the Founding Fathers with the ideas that are the cornerstone of our country, but we must also remember the Continental Army who first fought for those ideas. Oppressed by tyrannical power, with the odds against them, they carried a banner of freedom and liberty unknown to the world at the time into battle. Their motive? A love for their country soon to be.

For almost two and a half centuries, millions of Americans have fought to protect those same ideas. Patriotism drives our ability to defend ourselves from forces that seek to degrade our institutions. It drove King George out of the colonies, it toppled fascists in Europe, it has shattered terror efforts around the world, and it was done in the name of service. Our veterans mark a unique attribute about what it means to be a patriot, as there is no other nation in the world that holds the title in such a high regard.

On this Independence Day, I encourage you to remember the sacrifices made for the American experiment. Our system is not perfect, but it is written in our highest law for us to always work to make it more perfect; to allow a people to exist together, regardless of their differences. No matter your job, your age, or your political affiliation, find a way to be a patriot. Find a way to fight for our great country, and let that patriotism continue to bind us as one nation, under God.

It is a pleasure to serve you in our Congress, and I wish you and your families a happy and safe Independence Day.